In a tense best-of-five series finale, the Tasmania JackJumpers clinched their maiden NBL championship with a remarkable 83-81 triumph over Melbourne United on enemy territory at John Cain Arena. Despite facing a raucous crowd of 10,175 fans, Tasmania’s Jordon Crawford delivered a standout performance, scoring 27 points in the first half and finishing with a series-high 32 points.
Crawford’s stellar performance ranks among the top-scoring displays in title-series games in the 40-minute game era, dating back to 2009. Under the guidance of head coach Scott Roth, Tasmania completed a fairy tale journey, bouncing back from a title decider loss two years ago in their inaugural season.
While Melbourne United initially held the home-court advantage and secured a commanding victory in the first game of the series, Tasmania rallied to claim the final two games in closely contested battles. The series saw the last four games decided by a mere 11 points.
Crawford received ample support from teammates Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay, and Milton Doyle, while Melbourne’s starters, including Jo Lual-Acuil Jr, Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding, and Luke Travers, all contributed double-digit points.
Despite a spirited effort from Melbourne, including a late-game attempt by Dellavedova to secure victory, Tasmania held on to claim the championship, sparking jubilant celebrations among their traveling supporters.”
